There are so many interesting webcomics out there that keeping track of more than a few seems impossible at times. Sure, you can set up accounts on DeviantArt, Fur Affinity, ComicFury, Webtoons, Tapas, Tumblr, and even an artist’s own website.
However, there’s a more practical way to keep track of webcomics scattered across the internet. Really Simple Syndication or RSS has been around since the late 1990s, but its use really took off in the mid-2000s with the advent of blogs. With the inception of social media, RSS use has declined as people found it more convenient follow artists on Facebook or Twitter. The demise of popular RSS readers such as Google Reader didn’t help matters.
That said, the late 2010s saw an uptick in RSS usage as people began to tire of social media algorithms and wanted to take back control of what they saw on the web. In the last year or so, social media has only becomes more chaotic as Twitter saw a change in ownership, and a variety of competing services sprung up to take its place. Between toxic individuals and heavy content moderation, there has been a huge push for creators to take back ownership of their works. For those supporting creators who wish to take back ownership, RSS is a good solution for many situations.
If you’ve never used or tried an RSS reader, the task can seem daunting.
I’ve been using RSS feeds since the mid-2000s. I was originally searching for a solution to keep up with all the sources of information and entertainment I followed. Bookmarks simply didn’t cut it, as I’d have to remember to check them every so often. Other than LiveJournal, I wasn’t really on social media either. When I stumbled upon Google Reader, the service seemed like a godsend. I could follow updates from multiple websites from a single website. I was heartbroken when Google Reader shutdown in 2013, but found Feedly to be a good replacement. Even better it had app support, so I could follow along on mobile when I wasn’t at my computer.
Recent updates to Feedly turned me off on the service, so opted for NewsBlur. Unfortunately, the free version of NewsBlur only allows for 64 news feeds. At some point I realized I’d need a second reader just for all the webcomics I’m following. I signed up for Inoreader which has a free version that allows for 100 feeds.
I’ll walk you through that process in case you want to try Inoreader or a similar RSS reader for yourself.
Signing up for Inoreader is as simple as entering an email address and creating a password. You’ll then have to verify that email at some point.
Upon starting, the service gives you the option to import data from another RSS reader. Let’s skip that step since this is a walkthrough for people who want to start fresh.
On desktop or mobile, navigate to the left sidebar and scroll down to “Add New” and select “Feed.”
You’ll be taken to a page where you can enter a website. I started with the homepage of Golden Shrike on ComicFury. Inoreader automatically finds the RSS feed for the site, and shows you the last three updates. Go ahead and click “Follow” to add the site to your list. This works with a vast majority of comics hosted on ComicFury.
I only ran into an issue with one site. Inoreader has an option to automatically generate an RSS feed, but that feature is locked behind a paywall.
The RSS reader even works with sites outside of ComicFury, like artist owned sites. The only catch is that the site has to have an RSS feed somewhere. If one exists, most RSS readers are good at finding it. For our example, I followed Awkward Zombie. As you can see, quite a few people using Inoreader already follow this comic.
Next, I tried Beyond the Western Deep. I don’t remember the last time this comic had page updates, but there are at least blog updates.
Webcomics on Tumblr are not a problem for Inoreader either. I was easily able to add Dungeons and Doggos to my feed.
As you can see, I have a good number of comics from various sources followed now. I just need to decide on if I want a text or more visual layout. I opted for a more visual layout.
One of the visual layouts gives you a thumbnail view before expanding into the full page. You can click on the page title to be taken directly out of Inoreader and to the original website.
I did some customization of Inoreader to add a dark mode and a user icon. More importantly, I have good mix of comics that I can follow in one location.
There is an app for Android or iOS for those of you who prefer a mobile experience.
There are some drawbacks to RSS readers. If a website doesn’t have an RSS feed, or one that’s recognized by an RSS reader, you won’t be able to import a feed. It’s up to the website owner to make sure their site has an RSS feed. Some platforms such as WordPress do this automatically, other platforms don’t. Some RSS readers can create a feed from just a website URL, but that depends on the reader and if that feature is free. As far as I remember, Feedly performed such a service for free. Inoreader’s is a paid feature, and Newsblur doesn’t even have an option– at least for the free version.
As for RSS readers here are a few options:
- Feedly (100 feeds, has Android/iOS apps)
- NewsBlur (64 feeds, has Android/iOS apps)
- Inoreader (100 feeds, has Android/iOS apps)
- Feedreader (100 feeds, Windows program, web app for everything else)
- Feeder (200 feeds, has Android/iOS apps)
- The Old Reader (100 feeds, has Android/iOS apps)
Whatever you choose, happy reading and enjoy taking back your experience on the web!
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